Some Therapeutic Comparisons

I was told by another volunteer here that Month 1 is the honeymoon and Month 2 is the tough part (referencing how much you’ll miss home). Well, I was missing home something fierce during Month 1, and, while I still miss home, this month I am at least keeping busy. However, I do find myself spending a lot of time thinking about everything and everyone I miss, and this blog definitely helps with that, because, in some weird way, it feels like I’m actually getting to talk to you. I guess that’s why I’m starting to write a little more often. Thus, this entry is much more a small compilation of thoughts than it is a story, but here it is. Take it or leave it.

Things I do more here than I did in the past:
*Attend prayer with monks. It was just as available at SJU, but I just always seemed a little too busy (maybe having prayer in my native language was not challenging enough).
*Do dishes! That’s right roommates, I handwash a bunch of dishes about twice a day! The nuns like to do it, but Mike and I try to help whenever we have time. And, in all fairness, I actually use dishes. This brings me to my next point…
*Eat on a regular schedule! I eat so much at all three meals at very set times (especially relative to Africa time)!
*Read. Tonight I will finish my fourth book in Tanzania, which is probably more than I would have read at this point in a normal semester (Math major- give me a break). I would have been on pace for even more, but I have slowed down in order to spend more time on Kiswahili. If you’re curious, I have read Let the Great World Spin (fascinating work of fiction that acts as a commentary on America and the interconnectedness of people), The Shadow of the Sun (the stories of a Polish reporter who spent 40 years in Africa), Teach Like a Champion (a book filled with great techniques to be a better teacher that we used for Breakthrough orientation), and The Lamb’s Supper (a book about how the book of Revelation is really a description of the Mass as Heaven on Earth). So far, I am four for four on picking phenomenal books. Next up is The Gift of Change (one of 2 books added to my luggage by Mom), and it’s very good so far. Once I finish that pesky spirituality section of the library, I’m thinking I’ll treat myself by reading my first library selection- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Some guy I know really likes it…
*Play soccer. No comment.
*Tell people that I live near Canada.
*Act like a professor. I caught myself advising students that they should always “start with what you know” when approaching mathematical proofs. After it came out of my mouth, I realized I should be citing the one and only Tom Sibley (whose syllabus I found taped in an Abstract Algebra book in the advanced mathematics section of the library)! Also, I usually find chalk dust all over my face and shirt by the time I’m done with class….Awesome.

There’s probably a lot more, and I could definitely make a long list of things I do less often now, but somehow that doesn’t seem as healthy (although there are plenty of good things like the following: “I use less natural resources and hurt the planet less by not driving.” and “I am not so reliant on technology.” )
Sorry this entry wasn’t super exciting. Maybe I just wanted to brag about all of the wonderful habits I’m getting into.
*Great American Influence: A good portion of the spirituality section of the library is made up of books from the SJU Liturgical Press, including a book on altar serving by my former Faculty Resident, the one and only Fr. Michael Kwatera, OSB.